Arrows rally to edge Lex / Chelsea Smetzer scores both goals in district

Dusty SloanPublished: October 25, 2006 12:00AM

By DUSTY SLOAN
T-G Sports Editor
MADISON TOWNSHIP At this time of year, soccer teams arent going to win on the strength of just one players performance.
Luckily for Ashland High Schools girls soccer team, there were plenty of key performances to go around in a 2-1 win over Lexington Tuesday night in a Division I district semifinal.
Chelsea Smetzer scored both Arrow goals, goalkeeper Lauren Lucas stopped a Lexington penalty kick and defender Kara Lucas made a crucial late-game non-goalie save to give Ashland its third win over Lexington this season.
They talk about its tough beating a team a third time. I really dont believe that, said Ashland coach Jerry White. But you know what? It was a tough game, well-played by both squads. Luckily, we kept our composure after they scored first.
Lady Lex got on the board first, scoring within the first five minutes when Katie Stephenson collected a rebound off Jenna Monicas free kick and put it in the back of the Ashland net.
It took the Arrows some time to tie the game, but it took very little time for them to take the lead.
Smetzers first goal came on a header past a diving Lex keeper Melissa Goodall. The feed came from Rachel Phillip from left to right, which is where Goodall was headed, then Smetzers header went back the other direction.
Less than a minute later, Smetzer launched a long shot on the ground right to left, and got it past Goodall again to give Ashland a lead it wouldnt relinquish.
It felt pretty good, Smetzer said. I knew I had to score, so I just did.
Both nice goals, both unselfish passes, White said. Good finishes. Thats what we talk about. If the team wants to advance, we have to play together for everybody.
After that, it was up to the Arrow defense, and it was up to the task. Halfway through the second half, Lauren Lucas had to stop a penalty kick by Lexs Aliya Shull after an Ashland foul in the box. Lucas save came to her right, which was by design.
I tried to remember how she shot last year, Lucas said of last years Ohio Cardinal Conference tournament championship game, when Ashland and Lexington went to penalty kicks to determine a winner. I remembered, the other day against Madison, Lauren Hitchman and Katie Stephenson both went to their right, so I thought, Maybe its a team thing.
Then, in the last couple minutes of the game, Kara Lucas cleared away a Lady Lex shot that had gotten past Lauren Lucas, keeping the game at 2-1.
Jerry always tells us not to leave our post, Lucas said. I was going to come out, but I heard Jerry screaming, Stay on your post, so I just backed up.
On Laurens, you could see she was off-center a little bit, just inviting her (and) taking that one side away, White said. She made the big save.
And then Kara, you talk about being in the right place on posts and stuff she got a nice, solid touch, didnt try to kick it a mile, and thats all we needed.
Ashland had a slim 17-13 shots advantage. Lauren Lucas made eight saves in the victory.
Ashland (16-2-1) now will play the winner of Elida/Findlay in a Division I district final Saturday night at Findlay High School.
n Contact Dusty Sloan, sports editor, at 419-281-0581, ext. 244, or dsloan@times-gazette.com.